Soil fumigant applicator



Oct. 3l, 1939.

SOIL FUMIGANT APPLICATOR Filed March s, 1939 2 @mets-Sheet 1 SWW/who@ L.TAYL |:1 R

G-i-Hn/M Oct. 31, 1939. I y A 1 TAYLOR 2,177,792

SO IL FUMIGANT APPLICATOR Patented Oct. 31, 1939 yPATENT orFlxcs SOILFUMIGAN T APPLICATOR Albert L. Taylor, Tifton, Ga.; dedicated to thefree use, of the People in the territory of the United States yApplication March 3, 1939, Serial No. 259,634

1 Claim.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) This application is made under the act` of March 3, 1883, asamended by the act'of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein describedand claimed, if patented, may be manufactured` and used by orfor theGovernment of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment to me of any royalty thereon. v

I hereby dedicate the invention herein described tothe freeuse of thePeople in the territory of the United States to take effect on `thegrantingiof, a patent to me.

This invention relates to a soil fumigant applicator and moreparticularly to a soil fumigant applicator Vadapted for use in applyingliquid soil fumigants beneath the soil surface in combat-5 ing theroot-knot nematode and othernematode or insect pests as well as fungiand bacteria living in the soil. Y

2()` often more than a foot-beneath the surface. Consequently, theycannot be reached by any simple method now available. Fumigants can beapplied tothe soil only by makeshift methods or by removing it to achamber constructed for the purpose.- f

The object of this invention is to make available simple and efficientequipment through the use of which accurately rnes/isured amounts ofliquid soil fumigants can be placed beneath the soil surface in orderthat the nematodes, insects or other organisms therein may be killed.The invention is also adapted to other uses than soil fumigation, such`as, the fumigation of manure or compost and can be used with otherliquids than fumigants, such as liquid fertilizers or root stimulatingsolutions which might be advantageously placed in4 close proximity tothe roots of growing plants. 40 One advantage of this invention is thatthe soil .fumigants can be placed beneath the soil surface in closeproximity to the organisms to be killed, thereby greatly increasing theefficiency of the iumigant and consequently reducing the quantityrequired.

Another advantage is that the amounts of fumigant applied. can beaccurately predetermined, thus reducing waste of the material due to'the use of too large a quantity and reducing inefficiency due to theuse of too small a quantity.

Still another advantage is that the measurement of the fumigant isaccomplished in a very simple manner, thereby reducing inaccuracies dueto inattention` on the part of the operator.

A further advantage is that the soil @im be Thepests mentioned above`live in the soil,

treated in the field or greenhouse where it is to be used, eliminatingthe necessity of moving it to a special fumigating chamber.

A still further advantage is .that any liquid can .be used in thisinvention, so that by selection of the proper liquid, nematodes,insects, fungi or bacteria can be controlled or liquid fertilizers canbe supplied tothe roots of growing plants.

Yet anotheradvantage is that, due to the fact that the only openings inthe `.system containing A the liquid are a very small one for' admittingair to the supply tank and a discharge opening which is beneath the soilsurface when liquid is being discharged, disagreeable liquids, such ascarbon bisulphide or irritating liquids, such as chlorpicrin, can behandled with safety and comfort to the operator.

The following description considered together with the accompanyingdrawings will more fully disclose this invention, its constructions, ar-20 rangements, and operations of parts and further objects-andadvantages thereof will be apparent.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of this invention.25 y Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion ofFigure l, partly in section.

' Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the pump hereinafterdesignatedby the numeral 8.

l lFigure 4 is a longitudinal section of an alterna- 30 tive type ofpump which may besubstituted for the one shown in Figure 3.

Referring with more particularity to Figures l, 2, and 3, the numeral 5designates a vertical rod at the bottom of which is attached a stirrup 6and at the top of which a `handle 'i is secured. A manually operatedpump 8, the details of which are hereinafter more fully described, issecured to the number 5 above the stirrup by means of brackets 9, or anyother suitable means. A reservoir or tank Ii! is also bracketed tothemember 5 above the brackets 9, substantially as shown. The outlet of thetank Iii is connected to the intake of the pump 8 by means of a flexibletube I I. To the lower end of .the stirrup Ii, a hollow tube or spike I2is secured. The bottom of the spike I2 carries a perforated point I3,said point having outlets III communicating with a Vertical tube I5disposed longitudinally in the spike i2, substantially as shown. Thetube l5 projects up through the upper end of the spike to a shortdistance in the stirrup '-:l where it is connected to the delivery sideof the pump d by means of a flexible tube IB. Ablock I'I, securedbetween the sides of the stirrup in the lower end thereof, provides abearing for the operators foot and, at the same time, protects the tubesI 5 and I6 from injury.

The piston rod I8 of the pump 8 is threaded at its upper portion, and isslidably held by a bracket I9. The threaded portion of said piston rodis fitted with a threaded abutter or nut 23 adapted to adjustably abutthe bottom of the bracket I9. The upper end of the rod I8 carries ahandle 2i to facilitate its translation.

Referring with more particularity to Figure 3, which is a longitudinalsection of the pump 3, a movable piston 22, having a central bore 23, isdisposed within the cylindrical barrel 24. The lower end of the barrel2li is closed by the endpiece 25, which endpiece carries the intaketubular fitting 26 communicating with the inside of the barrel 2lithrough a central bore 35, substantially as shown. The upper end of thebarrel 2li is closed by a member 2l, through which the piston rod I3slidably operates, and carries the delivery tubular tting 2tcommunicating with the inside of barrel 2d. The piston 22 is secured tothe lower end of the piston rod i8 through a short tube 2.5icommunicating with the bore 23, which tube is provided with a port 3d.The bore 23 of the piston 22 carries a valve ball 3| and a valve seat 32therefor. A pin 33 is secured to the lower end of the rod i8 projectingto a point above the ball 3i so that when said ball is forced upward, itwill abut the end of said pin 33 without going upward any further andthus prevents blocking of the passage of the fluid. Consequently, theiiuid being pumped can enter through the bore 23 around the ball 3l andout through the port 3l] into the barrel 23 from whence it is forcedthrough the delivery tube 2B. rEhe endpiece 25 is also provided with avalve comprising a valve seat 34 in the top of the central bore 35, anda valve ball 35 normally resting on said valve seat 31|.

In the alternative type of pump illustrated in Figure 4, the piston 37|is connected directly to the end of the piston rod I8 in the barrel 38.The lower end of the barrel 38 is closed by endpiece 33 having a partialcentral bore 455i, the upper portion of which is enlarged to form avalve seat 4| for the Valve ball l2 on top of which a coil spring 43 isdisposed. The tubular outlet elbow fitting 44 of the pump is tappedthrough the side of the endpiece 39 above the valve seat i and thetubular inlet fitting d5 is tapped through said endpiece 3Q below thevalve seat 4|, substantially as shown. The vertical arm of the iitting Mcarries the outlet valve box G6, which valve boX contains a valve seat41 and valve bal1 48 normally resting thereon and held in place by meansof a coil spring 39 disposed between said valve ball i8 and a set screw5B mounted through the horizontal arm of the elbow 5| iitted in the topof the valve box 46, substantially as shown.

The operation or this invention is as follows: The nut 20 iselevationally adjusted on the threaded portion of the rod I8 so that onestroke of the piston will cause the pump 8 to deliver the desired amountof liquid. The tank Ill is then filled with the liquid to be used. Theoperator then places the point I3 at the place in the soil to betreated. By putting his foot in the stirrup 5 and pressing downward onthe block I1, point I3 is forced in the ground to the desired depth upto the stirrup. The pump handle 2| is then moved up until nut 2licontacts the bottom of the bracket i9. The pump handle is then pusheddown as far as it will go. This has the eiTect of forcing thepredetermined amount of fluid through the outlets I4 below the ground.The device is then lifted out of the ground and transferred to the nextpoint of application where the same process is repeated.

Using the pump shown in Figure 3, the upstroke of the piston 22 forcesthe liquid contained in the section of the pump above the piston throughthe outlet 21. At the same time a partial vacuum is created in the pumpbarrel 24 below the piston causing the ball 36 to become unseated as aresult of the greater pressure of the liquid beneath, which liquidenters and fills this portion of the pump barrel below the piston. Aspiston 22 starts its down-stroke, the valve ball 36 drops back to itsseat by gravity and the liquid is forced through the bore 23, liftingthe valve ball 3| from its seat. The pin 33 prevents the valve ball 3|from lifting too far to block passage of the liquid and the liquidpasses through the port 30 and then through the delivery fitting 28, asabove described. When the piston 22 reaches the bottom of the pumpbarrel 24, it comes in contact with the valve ball 3G, forcing itagainst its seat so that, when the pump is not operating, hydrostaticpressure from the supply tank IG, combined with the siphon action of thedelivery tting 28, will not raise the two valve balls 3l and 36 fromtheir respective seats to permit liquid to run freely through the pump.

Using the pump shown in detail in Figure 4, the upstroke of the piston37| creates a partial vacuum in the barrel 38 which is immediately lledwith liquid through the inlet 39 in the same manner as describedhereinbefore in reference to the pump shown in Figure 3, except that inthis alternative type the pressure of the liquid entering must lift thespring @3 as well as the valve ball 132. As the piston starts itsdownward stroke the valve ball 42 drops back on its seat 4| while thehydraulic pressure lifts the valve ball d8 from its seat 41 against theaction of the spring i9 and the liquid fiows through the fitting M,through the bore in the valve box IIS and out through the elbow 5|. Asthe piston 3l reaches the end of its down-stroke, it contacts the spring43 forcing the valve ball 42 against its seat 4| providing a positivestop of iiow from the supply tank ID, thus preventing leakage due tohydraulic pressure and Siphon action as above described in connectionwith Figure 3.

The following dimensions are recommended but are not deemedindispensable for this device: An overall length of about four feet. Thespike |2 should be about one foot long. The stirrup B should be aboutsix inches wide by eight inches in length and the rod 5 should be abouttwo feet long. The supply tank IE! should have a capacity of about twoquarts and the pump should be so dimensioned that it will deliver fromone-third to one liquid ounce per stroke. The pump design shown inFigure l is best suited for the delivery of from two to ten cc. perstroke, while the type shown in Figure 3 is suitable for devicesintended to deliver larger amounts, although either of these two pumpscan be so dimensioned to serve any capacity.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a sub-soil fluid injector the combination with a frame member, astirrup secured to said frame member, a pointed hollow spike secured tosaid stirrup having perforations near its point; of a iiuid pumpcomprising a tubular barrel, a piston slidably disposed in said barrel,said piston having a longitudinal bore therethrough, a ball valve seatwithin said bore, a ball normally disposed on said seat, a tubublarmember having a port through the side thereof secured to said pistonabove said ball, a piston rod secured t0 the top of said tubular member,a pin in said tubular member projecting from the end of said piston rodto within a short distance above said ball when normally seated, anendpiece at the lower end of said barrel, another ball valve seat in thetop portion of said endpiece, another ball normally disposed on saidlast-mentioned Valve seat adapted to Contact said piston when saidpiston is in its extreme low position, a tubular inlet below saidlast-mentioned valve seat and a tubular outlet at the top of saidbarrel.

ALBERT L. TAYLOR.

